Before you dig: items marked [CONFIRM] are Bearcat field practice, not yet checked against the Cimarron assembly sheet packed with this kit. Where the two differ, the Cimarron sheet wins. Questions: call or text 817-803-1445, or book the $149 layout check and we walk the site with you on video.
1. Site needs
Level area at least 44 ft by 16 ft
Four set posts (customer-supplied 4x4 or steel pipe set in concrete, pattern in the layout guide)
Clearance of 12 ft overhead
2. Anchor pattern
Four posts, one at each corner of a 44 ft by 16 ft rectangle. That puts each post about 2 ft outside the 40 ft by 12 ft net so the cable can angle down to the turnbuckle without the net rubbing the post. [CONFIRM offset against the Rookie sheet]
Square the rectangle before you dig: measure both diagonals and move a corner until they match within 1 in.
Post height above grade: 11 ft minimum so the top cable hangs the net at its full 10 ft without the ceiling dragging. [CONFIRM: Cimarron may spec 10 ft flat]
Two long cables run post to post along each top edge. Two short cables run across the ends. A turnbuckle at one end of each cable does the tensioning.
3. Footing depth and set
Customer supplies the posts: 4x4 pressure-treated or 2 in schedule 40 steel pipe. For a 10 ft net above grade, buy 14 ft posts.
Hole: 10 to 12 in diameter, 36 in deep, 42 in where frost reaches below 3 ft. Set in concrete, crown the top to shed water, and let it cure 48 hours before you tension anything. [CONFIRM depth with crew]
Steel pipe posts: cap the top and drill the cable eye bolt 6 in below the cap so the cable pulls through solid material.
4. Hang the net in this order
Set and cure the posts. Run all four cables loose, turnbuckles fully open, before the net comes out of the bag.
Unroll the net on the ground inside the post rectangle, ceiling panel on top. Find the four corners of the ceiling and tie a flag of tape on each.
Clip the four ceiling corners to the cable corners first. Then clip along both long cables every 18 to 24 in, working from the middle out toward each end. [CONFIRM clip spacing]
Clip the two end cables last. Drop the side walls and the end walls; let them hang free for now.
Tie the end walls to the posts with the tie cord. Leave the plate-end wall overlapped, not tied, where you will walk in.
5. Tension sequence
Tension in this order: both long cables first, alternating a few turns on each turnbuckle so the posts stay plumb. Then the two end cables.
Target: no more than 4 to 6 in of sag at the middle of a long cable with the net hanging. [CONFIRM sag target]
Walk the net. The ceiling should be tight enough that a ball does not sit in it; the walls should puddle 6 to 12 in on the ground so a hit ball dies instead of rebounding.
Re-tension after the first week; new cable and new posts both settle.
6. Tools
Post-hole digger
Level
Wrench set
Ladder
Tape measure (100 ft) and string line with stakes
Concrete: about 2 bags (80 lb) per footing [CONFIRM per footing size]
Tape or flags to mark the net corners
7. Safety
Call 811 before you dig. It is free and it is the law in every state.
Overhead: nothing closer than 10 ft to a power line, including the ladder.
Never tension a net or a cable before the concrete has cured.
Two people on every ladder lift of net or rail. Three on a commercial net.
8. In the box
40x12x10 #24 twisted-poly batting cage net
Cable frame kit: steel cable, turnbuckles, post hardware
Net clips and tie cord
Bearcat layout guide (PDF) with anchor pattern and tension sequence
Cimarron part numbers: 40Rookie. Missing or damaged parts: photograph the box and the packing slip and text us the same day so we can file with Cimarron.